It's the Friday Five: Artsy Friday!

It's art, art, art in my life today, because I'm on the organizing committee for an all-women's art show that opens tonight! This means life has been about hanging paintings, arranging sculptures and assemblages, and doing everything we can to make sure we show off the women's work to its best advantage.

Something that has struck me in particular this year is the idea of art as a venue to give voice to the voiceless. But that's certainly not its only function. We have angry art, as political protest. We have joyful art, art that conveys the sheer buzz of being alive. We have spiritual art, reveling in the sacredness of the body or the earth. And just about every year, we have some form or another of "biblical" art, representing or commenting on something in scripture. (Above, the Levite's concubine from Judges, also known as Big Woman, by Elisabeth Lain Schell).

If you like, you can play the Friday Five, reflect with me upon art and the role it plays in your life.

1. Do you have a favorite piece of art in your home? Was it made by you or someone you love? Was it a gift or something you decided to purchase?

I have a lot of art in my home, but probably my very favorite is a gorgeous print of Ruth and Naomi by Chinese artist He Qi. It is a very treasured gift from a very dear person.

2. What do you think of the the art in your place of worship? Does it enhance the worship experience? Would you add to it, take away from it, or otherwise change it?

The church I serve is both simple and ornate... it treads that very fine line! I think my favorite thing about it might be the nave/ the roof, which is in that very traditional configuration of the bottom of a ship. It never fails to lift my soul when I look up at it.

3. What public art have you loved-- or hated?

One of my very favorite pieces of public art is this bull, repainted from the black (in which he decorated a now closed steakhouse), to this beautiful, fanciful nature lover, Blossom the Black Angus. My good friend achieved the transformation, and I just adore it.

4. What piece of art (famous, infamous, personal, or very, very well known masterpiece) speaks to your soul?

This Annunciation... can't find the name of the artist, though. Help?

5. When is the last time you created something beautiful, just for you?

I keep saying I'll do this, and finally, I've begun (slowly) to work on afghan with the colors that really speak to me, for my bedroom.

How about you? Is art a big part of your life today?